From left: Linda Aderholte, Sonja Garrison and Dee Wilmoth examine the antique silverware on display at the annual wine and hors d'oeuvres opening of Sue's Country Barn's spring sale. The Barn, whi...

ROSE ALBANO RISSO/The Bulletin

Linda Aderholte was hunting for antique plates and old yard sticks. Her good friend Sonja Garrison focused her search on collectible French pots. Dee Wilmoth had her eye focused on old tin trays, preferably decorated with tole paintings.

The three were among the many lucky early birds who snapped up about half of the antiques that were crammed inside Sue’s Country Barn less than an hour after the annual spring sale opened Thursday evening. The event, which featured wine and hors d’oeuvres for the Barn’s faithful customers and newcomers alike, is the traditional opening of Sue Giulian’s spring sale featuring a wide combination of antiques as well as vintage and collectible items. The eclectic collection ranged from old paintings, chandeliers, books, china, dinnerware, silverware, candlesticks, and all kinds of antique furniture. In the first half hour, most of the antique furniture – dressers, tables, buffets and chairs – were snapped up by the customers, many of them serious collectors, who were lined up in front of the barn before the doors even opened at 6 p.m.

Among the enthusiastic shoppers were longtime friends Aderholte, Wilmoth and Garrison who have been coming to Sue’s Country Barn since Giulian started offering antiques and collectibles twice a year. The three friends said they knew about the Barn long before Giulian transformed it into an antiques store that opens just twice a year – in spring and in the fall. The Barn was a favorite shopping stopover for them when Giulian had it open as a fruit stand.

Like several of the visitors Thursday night, the three friends have already loaded up their “treasures” in their cars but went back to “hunt” for more “treasures.”

Those who love to hunt old treasures will have an opportunity to do so at Sue’s Country Barn everyday through Sunday, May 3, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The Barn is located at 12607 East Highway 120 just two miles east of Hwy 99. For more information, call Giulian at 607-6013.